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A Whale of a Sighting
Localized Press Release
Contact:
Robert DiGiovanni, Jr.
Foundation Director/Senior Biologist
Riverhead Foundation
Phone: (631) 369-9840
Fax: (631) 369-9826
E-mail: rdigiovanni@riverheadfoundation.org
March 13, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
A Whale of a Sighting
Riverhead Foundation Issues Alert: See it, report it.
An ordinary Thursday morning began with phones ringing and pagers beeping at the Riverhead Foundation’s Hospital Facility. Biologists were already responding to the daily seal sightings and strandings. “This is what we call seal season. It’s generally the busiest time of year for healthy, sick and injured seals and now we’re in the middle of it,” said Robert DiGiovanni, Jr., Foundation Director/ Senior Biologist. “We’re dispatching rescue teams to local beaches to assess and monitor these animals and like most days, it’s to several places on Long Island at the same time.”
But today was even more special thanks to the reporting of a North Atlantic Right Whale sighting just south of Cooper’s Beach in Southampton, NY. A biologists was dispatched immediately to document the sighting. This is extremely important since there are only an estimated 350 individuals left of this particular species. “This is a very rare and important sighting.” said DiGiovanni. “We need as much information as we can get.”
The Riverhead Foundation trains patrollers to walk the beaches regularly and call regardless of what is or is not found. The long-term goal is to fill the gaps on unmonitored beaches with citizen scientists who report back all data, both positive and negative. It’s important to get this message across, so that we can understand the full scope of what’s going on in our ocean backyard.
The Riverhead Foundation needs the public’s continued support, if you receive our e-mails, please pass them along to friends and family, if you don’t, please subscribe at volunteers@riverheadfoundation.org for important updates about marine mammals and sea turtles. Even a tax-deductible donation at this time of the year would be greatly appreciated,” stated DiGiovanni.
Never place the animal back into the water.
Always call the hotline first and wait for a biologist’s instructions.
Always remain the Federally mandated 150 feet away
from marine mammals and sea turtles.
The Riverhead Foundation needs your help now more than ever…So How Can You Help?
*Patrol the beaches for sick & injured marine mammals and sea turtles
*Report any sightings of healthy animals to (631) 369-9840 ext. 15 or
sightings@riverheadfoundation.org
*Adopt a dolphin, whale, seal or sea turtle
*Make a donation (Monetary or In-Kind)
*Tell your friends & family
For information about the Riverhead Foundation, to adopt an animal or to become a member, please visit us on the web at www.riverheadfoundation.org, or call us at (631) 369-9840.
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